Breaking: NVIDIA H200 Key Component Production Halted

Recently, NVIDIA's H200 AI chip received official approval from the U.S. government for sales in China. However, people familiar with the matter say that production of several key H200 components—most notably printed circuit boards (PCBs)—has been halted due to ongoing regulatory uncertainty.

If the situation continues, it could become a serious setback for NVIDIA. The company had previously lobbied U.S. authorities to allow sales of the H200, which is positioned as a previous-generation AI accelerator. After U.S. President Donald Trump announced in December 2025 that H200 exports to China would be permitted, NVIDIA accelerated its manufacturing plans.

According to sources, NVIDIA had anticipated receiving more than one million orders. To meet expected demand, related manufacturing partners had been working around the clock, preparing for initial deliveries as early as March 2026.

That momentum has now stalled. Regulatory uncertainty has reportedly prompted component makers to pause production this week to avoid the risk of inventory write-downs. NVIDIA was said to be caught off guard by the sudden shift, especially as the first batch of H200 chips had only just arrived in Hong Kong.

Analysts at SemiAnalysis noted that the PCB used in the H200 is highly customized and cannot be repurposed for other products, increasing the financial risk of continued production under unclear policy conditions.

The uncertainty surrounding the H200 has also led many customers to reassess their options. Previously, NVIDIA's lower-spec H20 chip—designed to comply with U.S. export controls—faced similar disruptions, including production suspensions and sales restrictions.

On January 14, the U.S. president officially announced a 25% tariff increase on selected semiconductor products. The new tariffs mainly target a small group of high-end chips, including NVIDIA's H200 and AMD's MI325X, further complicating the outlook for these products.